December 1st, 2008

Green Gifts for Kids Are Groovy!

Posted by Jessica Jensen

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Are you scratching your head wondering what to get little Sally, Ben or, if you’re in Los Angeles, baby Dakota?  Well fear not– eco-assistance is on the way. Consider these groovy green gifts for kids– we’ve got gifts for babies, toddlers, little ramblers and even too-cool-for-school teenagers.  Like, whatever.

Green Gifts for Babies

What little baby wouldn’t love to snuggle the night away in this cozy 100% organic cotton one-piece from Under the Nile?  It’s so smart with its polo stripe design.  The baby will kiss you and say, “Thank you– I love it!” Wait, no it won’t.  But it will think it.

For the slightly more avant garde baby, how about this smart “I’m with the band” t-shirt from Focoloco?  This organic, hand-dyed shirt will make even the fussiest aspiring rock-star-baby pleased as punch.   I absolutely love the designs this company does….to see more click here. 

Okay we’ve got to get some stuffed animals in the mix.  These adorable sock monkeys from Maggie’s Organics are made from “less than perfect” Maggie’s Organics cotton socks. These monkeys are made by a 100% worker-owned co-operative in North Carolina. To make these monkeys extra special they are all hand sewn and one of a kind.  Get a barrel full of ‘em!

Green Gift for Toddlers and Little People

Kids need toys, but let’s say no to plastic this year, shall we? (To learn more about the No Plastic Holiday Challenge, click here.)  Why not get them a wooden toy that is sustainably made and will last for generations?  ImagiPLAY is a great company that makes wonderful, safe wooden toys for kids of all ages.  How neat is this Artic Expedition Playset at left?  You can also educate the child about the danger to the Artic posed by global warming! 

Little people will also love the toys from Plan Toys.  Plan Toys are made from sustainably-sourced woods (like recycled rubber wood) and are colored with vegetable dyes. I love this prop plane and pilot set… but there are hundreds of other super toys from this company as well.

Another excellent educational gift for kids is Dr. Seuss’ classic book The Lorax.  What makes this a green gift, you ask?  Let us refresh your memory on the books central theme:  ”Way back in the days when the grass was still green and the pond was still wet and the clouds were still clean…. there was a Lorax who spoke for the trees.” Seeee?  It’s a wonderful, cautionary tale that never grows old.  It should be in every child’s bookshelf!

Green Gifts for Teens

Teens are very hard to shop for– they hate everything their parents give them, right?  Well you might win some serious Cool Points if you get them an eco-friendly skateboard or snowboard.  Arbor is a hard-core green company and they have been making eco-smart boards since 1999.  They use eco-materials to improve the performance and style of their boards.  All of these natural materials are sustainably sourced. They also reclaim woods and bamboo for many of their products. Check them out! 

Another groovy gift for an older kid is a solar-powered backpack. These packs have solar panels in them, and kids can use them to charge their iPod, cell phone or whatever other gadget them may be carrying around.  They will look pretty sly carrying one of these bad boys on campus.

And click here to see more green gift ideas for mom, dad, wife, husband, and more!

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